Fosamax or Exercise?

Thanks for the information. I would bet that a lot of doctors aren't advising people of that caveat. I usually get such tests done in the same place for consistency, but have moved twice in the past 15 years which made that impossible.

Appreciate your thorough and thoughtful reply. Unfortunately, my provider is not supporting it. I'm not a fan of drugs either but don't want to risk fracturing. My osteoporosis is in the severe range. Money is not an issue.. but I just wish there were more evidence that it was helpful.

I have had DEXA's on many different machines. The trend is nevertheless clear 🙁

Osteostrong was not a good choice for me. It caused a spinal fracture. When I started PT this week, she said I wasn’t the first one that this had happened to from going to Osteostrong.

I TOTALLY get that! As do I (wish there were more evidence). One of the coaches at my local Osteostrong has a physician father in a state that has NO Osteostrong franchises. I asked him if his father was supportive of the concept. He said "YES! My dad thinks it's really valid and he'd recommend it to his patients if there was a nearby facility." I suggested he talk to his dad about opening the first franchise in his state. He could hire qualified coaches to operate it and still be full time physician. He thought that was a great idea and said he'd talk to him about it. But he also gave me the contact info for a doctor in Boulder who IS referring some patients to Osteostrong. I've also read through some osteostrong blogs and others have mentioned that they were referred by their doctors.

The big issue for "evidence" is that it takes a lot of time and money to get a scientific study underway. But there HAVE been some studies. FOR ME...I really am SO anti prescription drugs (given the VAST list of "possible side effects" from basically ALL of them!) I will definitely go the distance with this. I do feel improved strength and balance and a diminshed level of pain in my lower back and glutes. Some days I don't even notice or register any pain. In fact I've been in a pain free state for a couple of weeks straight!

More and more doctors are recommending it these days.

Hi @rubyz, Why don't you check out 12 Poses vs Osteoporosis at http://www.sciataca.org? Dr. Loren Fishman has had success improving bone density with 12 Yoga poses that are safe for osteoporosis. There is a video online with the standard and modified poses for osteoporosis and osteopenia. Algaecal posted videos of the three versions of the 12 poses separately. This can be found athttps://blog.algaecal.com/yoga-for-osteoporosis/
There is also a published paper "Twelve -Minute Daily Yoga Regimen Reverses Osteoporotic Bone Loss" in Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation 2016 Volume 32, Number 2 81-87 which you can google. An expanded clinical trial is currently underway and there are some openings. The details are at http://www.sciataca.org.
I just stumbled across Dr. Fishman's regimen while researching something else, but I've been doing the yoga poses for about a month. working my way up from the osteoporosis version to the Prevention, which I do with some modifications. It was difficult at first, but I'm getting better and steadier at it. For me, it's a nice break from strength training with free weights.
If you want to work with free weights, Margaret Martin, MelioGuide is very good. If you subcribe, she will email you different workouts.

I'm posting this here because I don't know where else it fits and we've been discussing Echolight and newer, more data-rich diagnostic protocols to help monitor bone health and target treatment. (I'm pretty sure that some reliable genetics assay is just around the corner...or hope so.)

PS Women account for about 65% of osteoporosis cases in the U.S. You all might consider pestering loved males to get tested for bone health. A golfer friend's osteoporosis was identified after a lower-back injury when it was already advanced osteoporosis. He has excellent doctors and a 'concierge' PCP and is legitimately peeved that no one ever monitored his bone health...
****************
FDA clear artificial intelligence software measuring BMD, fractures

The FDA has given 510(k) clearance for artificial intelligence software developed to support providers in the evaluation and assessment of musculoskeletal disease for older adults, according to an industry press release.

The HealthOST Device (Nanox Imaging Ltd.) provides a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the spine from CT imaging. The software’s analysis includes labeling of T1-L4 vertebrae, measurement of height loss in each vertebra, and measurement of mean Hounsfield Units in volume of interest within vertebra. The software automatically identifies findings suggestive of compression fractures and low bone mineral density, allowing providers to treat people with osteoporosis.
https://www.healio.com/news/endocrinology/20220504/fda-clear-artificial-intelligence-software-measuring-bmd-fractures

I'm with you on being data-driven. I read multiple peer-reviewed studies on pretty much any pharmaceutical before I take it.

Several years ago, there was a hot, new trendy way to treat herniated discs. I had four of them and three orthopedic surgeons recommending the new trendy cure.

I got a second opinion (mine! 😏) after reading the published studies and thinking that the protocol was fraught with an array of possible unintended consequences. I declined it, took several months helping my back heal and, a decade later, noticed the class action lawsuits representing people badly damaged by the trendy cure. Some in permanent intractable pain.

If some protocol, drug or procedure doesn't have rigorous testing and peer-reviewed longitudinal studies proving results and listing possible side effects, I pass on it. Especially if there's any chance that it could leave me worse off. I think of all of those people who agreed to that non-surgical back protocol who wish they'd waited until it had been unconditionally proven and am thankful for my own skepticism.

I hope that people don't feel that they face a decision between pharmaceuticals and Osteostrong. I'm glad that you find it helpful and if the company does have legitimate third-party peer-reviewed long-term testing proving, incontrovertibly, that it can reverse osteoporosis, without any risk, it will have no shortage of people rushing to join. Until that time, it's unproven so people will have to be their own 'experiments' in a sense. I hope for any advance in treatment that can help spare people osteoporosis and its many risks so hope the company invests in the research and makes it public for scrutiny.